The commission also fined the company more than $600 million.

It is the first time the commission has fined a sitting governor.

"The commission had never fined anyone more than $5,000," he said.

The European Commission fined the company more than $100 million last year for the latter practice.

Last year, the commission fined five companies involved with peroxide, which is used to make rubber and plastic.

The European Commission also fined the company for its abuse of animals.

The commission also fined the company 497 million euros.

Admitting that it was nearly impossible to discover who benefited, the commission fined each board member $8,000.

In 1996, the commission fined Nynex $62.3 million for falling short of service benchmarks.

Indeed, the Commission has just fined Volkswagen some £68 million for breach of this principle.